Mrs Chubbock said: “I was in the final, but then this young man came along, so I didn’t go in the final, I went out with him instead.”

It was not long before Mr Chubbock proposed by the seaside in Great Yarmouth.

Mrs Chubbock recalled: “He said ‘I won’t be buying an engagement ring, I’ll buy a sow instead, because that will start making money, and I’ll buy you a ring later’, which he did.”

They were married at the parish church in Thurlton, followed by a reception in Norwich where partridge was on the menu.

Mr Chubbock, who was drafted for farm service during the Second World War, began renting a mixed farm in Tivetshall and worked it until he was 65, eventually buying the property.

They had four sons; John, Michael, Malcolm and Neville.

John sadly died of motor neurone disease 20 years ago.

“That was the hardest day of my life,” Mrs Chubbock said.

The couple raised £39,000 for the MND Association over the next 10 years.

Earlier this year Mr Chubbock wrote a book about his life and times called Life of Bryan (with a Y) - A rural ramble - the proceeds of which are also going to the charity.

The Chubbocks are lifelong Methodists and have found time to travel the world together.

Mr Chubbock said seeing the Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon and going on safari in Kenya had been among their travelling highlights. They are expecting more than 100 guests at a party in their back garden on Saturday to celebrate the platinum milestone.

Mr Chubbock said: “We’re very fortunate to be able to live on our own and take care of ourselves.

“We know that because we have friends who won’t be able to make it. We work together and we’re a team.”